Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer – Squeezing Citrus Fruits

I’m sure if I came to your house right now and rummaged through your kitchen drawers I’d find at least one type of citrus juicer, reamer or squeezer.  You’ve either bought one at the grocery store, at one of those home food shows or you inherited one from some relative.  These things can range in price from super cheap to ‘Are you freakin kidding me???’.  These things come in all shapes, sizes and colors as well as ranging from plastic to metal.

Truth is, your hands are your best utensils for squeezing a lemon, lime or any citrus fruit you want to get juice from.  So you’re worried about seeds… Um, just squeeze it over a strainer and you’re golden.  However I have friends that refuse to do this as they don’t like to get their hands sticky or having them smell like citrus. The latter part is beyond me as I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of fresh lemon, lime and oranges.  It just smells fresh and clean.

However if you don’t like to get your hands dirty or you really don’t have the strength to go at it bare-handed, don’t waste your money on a kitchen tool that has a single purpose. Pitch what you have (or better yet, donate it) and reach for your kitchen tongs!

Yep you read that right, your kitchen tongs! Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer is all about an easy peasy way to squeeze citrus fruits!

Here’s how!

→ To make any citrus fruit easier to juice (and to ensure you get the most juice from it) make sure it’s at room temperature. Cold fruit doesn’t juice well at all.  This should take about 1-2 hours.
→ Once at room temperature, roll it around on the counter top to get the juices flowing. This softens and breaks the cell walls, allowing the fruit to release more juice. Or if you want, microwave it for about 10 or 15 seconds.
→ Next halve it, place a piece between the prongs (the inner lip on metal ones will minimize slippage)  and squeeze each half with a pair of sturdy kitchen tongs over a sieve-lined container.